Local Democrats push back against plans to close Rockford Social Security office

March 5, 2025|By Kevin Haas|In Rock River Current, News, 815 News, Local, Rockford, Trending
The Social Security Administration Office at 502 E. Jefferson St. in Rockford is slated for closure under the DOGE cost-cutting plans. (Photo by Kevin Haas/Rock River Current)
By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — Democrats including Mayor Tom McNamara and Congressman Eric Sorensen have pushed back against a plan to shutter the Rockford Social Security Administration Office as part of the Department of Government Efficiency’s cost-cutting plan.

The office at 502 E. Jefferson St. was listed this week among nearly 750 leases DOGE plans to terminate in order to save a combined $468 million. The Rockford office has an annual lease cost of $36,768 and would result in total savings of $61,280, according to the DOGE website.

There was no plan outlined for when the office would close.

McNamara, who was on a scheduled trip to Washington, D.C. this week to advocate for programs supporting survivors of domestic violence, said he also used this visit to push back against plans to close the Social Security building.

“Shutting down the Rockford office is an unacceptable decision and would create unnecessary barriers — especially transportation challenges — for thousands of residents, seniors, people with disabilities and working families who rely on these critical services the most,” he said. “We must ensure that our most vulnerable residents have access to the support they need, not make it harder for them. Our residents have worked hard and paid into the system for decades; they deserve accessible and reliable support.”

Sorensen, who grew up in Rockford, said the office offers and important service to the community.

“Thousands of seniors, people with disabilities, and families rely on it every day. These misguided budget cuts Trump and Elon Musk are bulldozing across the country are hurting real people,” he said. “This administration needs to put people first — not balance the budget on the backs of those who need help the most.”

Alderman-elect Tamir Bell also expressed his opposition to the closure.

“This decision would disproportionately harm seniors, individuals with disabilities, and countless residents in the 13th Ward who rely on in-person services to access their earned benefits. Social Security is not a luxury—it is a fundamental lifeline for many in our community,” he said. “Eliminating local access to these services will create unnecessary hardships, forcing residents to travel farther, endure longer wait times, and navigate a system that is already difficult for many to access online. In a time when two-thirds of Americans believe we should be investing more in Social Security, cutting services and closing offices is simply unacceptable.”

The Rockford Social Security Office was among 24 federal offices in Illinois DOGE plans to close in its cost-cutting measure. There were no other offices from the Rockford region on the list.

This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas